double briefing

[delgwood]

Hello everyone, this is my first time on this site.

I am a CNA/med aide/ at a assisted living facility and I found a resident with a double brief on. I emailed the RN and she said she approved it. This pt is very willful and declines help frequently. The RN approved it to see if it would help with changing this pt. My take on it is there is no way this is beneficial. It is a safety hazard for skin breakdown due to moisture and increased heat and it could potentially confuse her and cause her to fall. This RN took my private message and forwarded to every caregiver on the floor. the RN responded to the email by stating she said it was ok and that it was not inteded to increase moisture. First I'm extreme frusturated that she doesnt see this as wrong. Second I feel violated for her sharing a private message with my co workers. Can I please get someones input.

Thanks Sarah

[Bringonthenight]

I find it kinda weird that you have to send an email to talk to an RN. Is there licensed nurses at the facility, or is it staffed fully by aides? Sorry I'm just curious about US culture!

I think your right, double briefing could be hazardous to the patients skin, not to mention staff might think she is dry because the 2nd pad isn't showing any signs that it needs to be changed.

And the whole forwarding on your private email is so high school. That's not showing much professionalism on her part- again kind of scary behaviour from a registered nurse! I hope your email was written professionally, you can hold your head high knowing you were advocating for a patient.

[MarggoRita]

Our facility does not allow double padding for the very reasons you stated. I am curious, how is double padding supposed to aid in making a willful resident compliant? Wouldn't it only add another layer to the process? Or is the concept that he may go twice as long between changes to reduce the number of changes in a day? When I think of our more willful residents I do not see where putting an extra pad on them would benefit either them or staff...